ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ivy League North
champion Harvard softball team drew even with South champ Cornell,
1-1, in the fourth inning, but a two-run Cornell sixth helped the
Big Red to a 3-1 win in game one of the Ivy League Championship
series, Friday at Niemand Robison Field.

The hosts got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third
inning. Marissa Amiraian drove a 2-2 pitch down the left field line
for a one-out double and Shannon Crane got her home with a single
to center. The Crimson responded in the next half-inning as
Stephanie Krysiak drove a one-out double down the left field line.
After Whitney
Shaw reached on a walk, Jessica Ferri
drove a 1-1 pitch to left field, plating Krysiak. The Big Red took
advantage of five walks in the bottom of the sixth, including two
with the bases loaded, to take a 3-1 lead for good.

Krysiak, Ferri, Ellen Macadam and
Jessica
Pledger had the hits for Harvard, with Krysiak picking up one
of just three extra-base hits in the game. Rachel Brown took
the loss in circle for Harvard, going 5.2 innings and allowing
three runs on five hits and striking out five. Elizabeth Dalrymple
earned the win for Cornell, allowing four hits over seven innings
and striking out nine. Amiraian was the only player in the game to
record multiple hits, going 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Crimson and Big Red will play game two this afternoon,
beginning at approximately 2:45 p.m.